Page 86 of Shadows of Fate

“What do you mean?” I asked quickly. “How is he ruling the court with no magic?”

“He’d have me or Cora use ours when he wanted to show off any ice magic. I’m not sure what he did prior to us. But I know he’s Cyprian’s son because he told me. He told everyone in the court that day he beat me that he was.” She wiped the tears from her face again and looked back at me. “The day… the day that you saw? I remembered the rest, Raiden. I remembered him beating me. After I provoked him, he told me that he didn’t wait so long for an opening to avenge his father and the kingdom they took from him, just to be taken out by a bitch from a nameless town buried in ice.” Everyone stared in shock.

“That is… just. Okay. Well. My vow still stands,” Arabella said after a few quiet moments.

“You have mine as well,” Micah stated.

“Agreed, Ice Sickle,” Bastian added.

“The threads are shining bright.” Anwen smiled. “Also, Allie. When you finally transition, please ensure that Micah and Bastian bring you to me to train.”

Micah paled as a smile lit up Allie’s face, and Bastian just looked confused.

“Of course I’d love to,” Allie replied.

“Silvana, keep in contact with your friend. He will have valuable information to help your case. But don’t be alarmed by the form the information comes in. It may feel… a bit odd soon,” Anwen added, a far-off look in her eyes.

“Of course, it will come in an odd form,” Silvana muttered beneath her breath.

“Well, now that we have all of that settled, I’d like to stay one more day, if that’s all right, Raiden? Then I’ll head home to see my mate. I have much to update him on now,” Arabella said.

“Of course, Arabella. You are always welcome. You can take your normal chambers. I’m sure Micah already has you set up there anyhow. Personally, I’m taking my mate to bed now.”

I gathered Silvana in my arms, dropped the shadows from the room, and carried her to our chambers. Once there, I started a hot bath in our bathroom, stripped us both down, and carried her in, setting her between my thighs. Her head leaned back on my chest, and I ran my fingers through her hair.

“Tell me what’s on your mind, My Queen,” I asked softly.

“I don’t want to lose myself to this, Raiden. I don’t want to become that soft female who couldn’t stand up for herself… but I also know I can’t be that same female who killed on a whim and didn’t fear death or consequences. I have to be smarter about this now.”

I let her words sink in for a moment before I brought my hand up and wrapped it around her throat gently, squeezing.

“You need to listen very carefully, My Queen. You have never been that soft female you feared becoming. I saw you, Silvana. I saw the fire in your eyes when you protected the other females and your sister. I saw the fire in your eyes when you stood up to Keres and almost died. You have also never been the female who lacked empathy and love. Allie told me about how you saved her, the way you let that male run away so you could stay behind and ensure she was safe and comfortable.” I kissed down her collarbone, running my fangs along her pulse point. “You are soft. You are resilient. You are tough. You are empathetic. You are every single thing you need to be to not only be my mate but be the queen of this court.”

“You sure do have a way with words, My Lord,” she whispered.

I turned her head to look up at me and licked the few tears that fell down her cheeks at my words, letting the salty taste of her fill my mouth.

“And you sure have a way of being my perfect mate,” I whispered back. “I love you so much.”

“And I love you. Always,” she replied, a smile on her face.

I wasn’t sure what was to come, but I knew with Silvana by my side, we’d end it all. Together.

Epilogue

Cedar

The Court of Ice was fucking freezing. While I knew that was a ludicrous thing to complain about, given that the damn court was named after its frozen tundra and Drustan’s, the first ruler of this court, magic. But still, it was cold.

I’d been flying around, finding odds and ends to do for work, and seeing what I could learn about the so-called ruler here for almost a full moon cycle now. So far, I had little to nothing to report back to Silv and Raiden. Part of me felt stupid for insisting I stay, but I couldn’t leave her behind.

Something about her and the look in her eye? I had to ensure she was truly okay here. I had to ensure she wasn’t being treated the way Silvana had been. However, I hadn’t laid eyes on her since she escorted us to the dining room that first night. She all but disappeared from that moment on. I’d even looked before Silv left the next evening—nothing.

Shaking off the bit of snow that had accumulated in my hair, I shifted forms and took flight.

It had taken a few nights of full flying before I was more accustomed to the colder climate. Nothing was worse than frozen feathers. It made sense why my feathery counterparts steered the fuck away from this city.

I took a wide circle around the castle of Whitbourne when I felt eyes on me. I glanced down, and that’s when I saw her. Looking up at me through an open window in the castle below. Before I could think better of it, I flew down, landing on the edge of the windowsill.

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